Post on 05-Oct-2020
Build, Buy, or Borrow:
Choosing the Best Software Development Path
NTEN – Nonprofit Technology Network
Kevin Howard Goldberg
President, imagistic November 13, 2012
BUILD, BUY, OR BORROW ...
BUILD, BUY, OR BORROW ...
What We’ll Cover
BUILD, BUY, OR BORROW ...
What We’ll Cover
• Introduction to Technologies / Terminologies
BUILD, BUY, OR BORROW ...
What We’ll Cover
• Introduction to Technologies / Terminologies
• Critical Factors in Making Decisions
BUILD, BUY, OR BORROW ...
What We’ll Cover
• Introduction to Technologies / Terminologies
• Critical Factors in Making Decisions
• Process for Software Solution Comparison
BUILD, BUY, OR BORROW ...
What We’ll Cover
• Introduction to Technologies / Terminologies
• Critical Factors in Making Decisions
• Process for Software Solution Comparison
What We Won’t Cover
BUILD, BUY, OR BORROW ...
What We’ll Cover
• Introduction to Technologies / Terminologies
• Critical Factors in Making Decisions
• Process for Software Solution Comparison
What We Won’t Cover
• The Best Software Solution
WHO AM I?
WHO AM I?
Kevin Howard Goldberg
WHO AM I?
Kevin Howard Goldberg
• President, imagistic
WHO AM I?
Kevin Howard Goldberg
• President, imagistic
• Software development since 1987
WHO AM I?
Kevin Howard Goldberg
• President, imagistic
• Software development since 1987
• Wharton School / Entrepreneurial Management
WHO AM I?
Kevin Howard Goldberg
• President, imagistic
• Software development since 1987
• Wharton School / Entrepreneurial Management
• Start-ups, start-up divisions
WHO AM I?
Kevin Howard Goldberg
• President, imagistic
• Software development since 1987
• Wharton School / Entrepreneurial Management
• Start-ups, start-up divisions
• Author, Teacher, Husband and Dad
BUILD, BUY, OR BORROW ...
BUILD, BUY, OR BORROW ...
Build
BUILD, BUY, OR BORROW ...
Build
• Custom software development
BUILD, BUY, OR BORROW ...
Build
• Custom software development
Buy
BUILD, BUY, OR BORROW ...
Build
• Custom software development
Buy
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
BUILD, BUY, OR BORROW ...
Build
• Custom software development
Buy
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
Borrow
BUILD, BUY, OR BORROW ...
Build
• Custom software development
Buy
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
Borrow
• Open Source Software (OSS)
OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
What?
OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
What?
• Code (and documentation) is downloadable, visible, editable
OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
What?
• Code (and documentation) is downloadable, visible, editable
Why?
OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
What?
• Code (and documentation) is downloadable, visible, editable
Why?
• Philosophy, notoriety, reciprocity, advancement
OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
What?
• Code (and documentation) is downloadable, visible, editable
Why?
• Philosophy, notoriety, reciprocity, advancement
Is It Really Free?
OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
What?
• Code (and documentation) is downloadable, visible, editable
Why?
• Philosophy, notoriety, reciprocity, advancement
Is It Really Free?
• Yes ... with conditions (licenses)
EXAMPLES OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
EXAMPLES OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
User Applications • Drupal, WordPress, CiviCRM, Firefox, Chromium, OpenOffice,
Moodle, Eclipse, 7-Zip, and many more
Server Software
• Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP (LAMP stack)
EXAMPLES OF OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
User Applications • Drupal, WordPress, CiviCRM, Firefox, Chromium, OpenOffice,
Moodle, Eclipse, 7-Zip, and many more
Server Software
• Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP (LAMP stack)
Resources
• www.opensource.org, www.sourceforge.net
PURCHASED SOFTWARE EXAMPLES
PURCHASED SOFTWARE EXAMPLES
Off-The-Shelf (Software Publishing)
PURCHASED SOFTWARE EXAMPLES
Off-The-Shelf (Software Publishing) • Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Oracle, etc.
PURCHASED SOFTWARE EXAMPLES
Off-The-Shelf (Software Publishing) • Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Oracle, etc.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
PURCHASED SOFTWARE
PURCHASED SOFTWARE EXAMPLES
Off-The-Shelf (Software Publishing) • Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Oracle, etc.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Google Apps, iCloud
• Salesforce, Facebook, Webex, SurveyMonkey, MailChimp
PURCHASED SOFTWARE EXAMPLES
Off-The-Shelf (Software Publishing) • Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Oracle, etc.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Google Apps, iCloud
• Salesforce, Facebook, Webex, SurveyMonkey, MailChimp
• Webmail (Earthlink), Hotmail (1996)
PURCHASED SOFTWARE EXAMPLES
Off-The-Shelf (Software Publishing) • Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Oracle, etc.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Google Apps, iCloud
• Salesforce, Facebook, Webex, SurveyMonkey, MailChimp
• Webmail (Earthlink), Hotmail (1996)
• IaaS, PaaS, STaaS, SECaaS, DaaS, etc.
WHAT IS THE CLOUD?
WHAT IS THE CLOUD?
History
WHAT IS THE CLOUD?
History • Network design diagrams
WHAT IS THE CLOUD?
History • Network design diagrams
The Cloud is the Internet
• Cloud computing is SaaS
WHAT IS THE CLOUD?
History • Network design diagrams
The Cloud is the Internet
WHAT IS THE CLOUD?
History • Network design diagrams
The Cloud is the Internet • Cloud computing is SaaS
CUSTOM BUILT SOFTWARE
CUSTOM BUILT SOFTWARE
What?
CUSTOM BUILT SOFTWARE
What? • You design it, someone builds it
CUSTOM BUILT SOFTWARE
What? • You design it, someone builds it
Components, Libraries, Frameworks
CUSTOM BUILT SOFTWARE
What? • You design it, someone builds it
Components, Libraries, Frameworks • CodeIgniter, CakePHP (PHP) Spring, Struts (Java), Telerik, Infragistics (.NET)
CUSTOM BUILT SOFTWARE
What? • You design it, someone builds it
Components, Libraries, Frameworks • CodeIgniter, CakePHP (PHP) Spring, Struts (Java), Telerik, Infragistics (.NET)
Examples
CUSTOM BUILT SOFTWARE
What? • You design it, someone builds it
Components, Libraries, Frameworks • CodeIgniter, CakePHP (PHP) Spring, Struts (Java), Telerik, Infragistics (.NET)
Examples
• Excel macros, Word templates, PERL scripts, batch files
CUSTOM BUILT SOFTWARE
What? • You design it, someone builds it
Components, Libraries, Frameworks • CodeIgniter, CakePHP (PHP) Spring, Struts (Java), Telerik, Infragistics (.NET)
Examples
• Excel macros, Word templates, PERL scripts, batch files
• Browser-based applications
QUESTIONS?
QUESTIONS?
Technologies / Terminologies
OSS
SaaS
The Cloud
Custom Software
Etc.
DECISION MAKING
DECISION MAKING
Critical Factors
DECISION MAKING
Critical Factors • Installation and Configuration
DECISION MAKING
Critical Factors • Installation and Configuration
• Customization
DECISION MAKING
Critical Factors • Installation and Configuration
• Customization
• Maintenance and Support
DECISION MAKING
Critical Factors • Installation and Configuration
• Customization
• Maintenance and Support
• Upgrades
DECISION MAKING
Critical Factors • Installation and Configuration
• Customization
• Maintenance and Support
• Upgrades
• Hosting and Backups
DECISION MAKING
Critical Factors • Installation and Configuration
• Customization
• Maintenance and Support
• Upgrades
• Hosting and Backups
• Security
DECISION MAKING
Critical Factors • Installation and Configuration
• Customization
• Maintenance and Support
• Upgrades
• Hosting and Backups
• Security
• Getting What You Want
DECISION MAKING
Critical Factors • Installation and Configuration
• Customization
• Maintenance and Support
• Upgrades
• Hosting and Backups
• Security
• Getting What You Want
• Cost
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION
Essentials
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION
Essentials
• Out-of-the-box -> installation -> configuration
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION
Essentials
• Out-of-the-box -> installation -> configuration
Comparisons
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION
Essentials
• Out-of-the-box -> installation -> configuration
Comparisons • Build – mostly n/a
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION
Essentials
• Out-of-the-box -> installation -> configuration
Comparisons • Build – mostly n/a
• Buy – varies
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION
Essentials
• Out-of-the-box -> installation -> configuration
Comparisons • Build – mostly n/a
• Buy – varies
• Borrow – varies
CONFIGURATION
CONFIGURATION
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION
Essentials
• Out-of-the-box -> installation -> configuration
Comparisons • Build – mostly n/a
• Buy – varies
• Borrow – varies
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION
Essentials
• Out-of-the-box -> installation -> configuration
Comparisons • Build – mostly n/a
• Buy – varies
• Borrow – varies
Takeaways
INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION
Essentials
• Out-of-the-box -> installation -> configuration
Comparisons • Build – mostly n/a
• Buy – varies
• Borrow – varies
Takeaways
• Review / demo for thorough and deep understanding
CUSTOMIZATION
CUSTOMIZATION
Essentials
CUSTOMIZATION
Essentials
• APIs, hooks, plug-ins, modules, data access (RSS, XML, JSON)
CUSTOMIZATION
Essentials
• APIs, hooks, plug-ins, modules, data access (RSS, XML, JSON)
Comparisons
CUSTOMIZATION
Essentials
• APIs, hooks, plug-ins, modules, data access (RSS, XML, JSON)
Comparisons • Build – as extensive as you’d like
CUSTOMIZATION
Essentials
• APIs, hooks, plug-ins, modules, data access (RSS, XML, JSON)
Comparisons • Build – as extensive as you’d like
• Buy – most difficult but depends on system
CUSTOMIZATION
Essentials
• APIs, hooks, plug-ins, modules, data access (RSS, XML, JSON)
Comparisons • Build – as extensive as you’d like
• Buy – most difficult but depends on system
• Borrow – good to great (beware the hacker)
CUSTOMIZATION
Essentials
• APIs, hooks, plug-ins, modules, data access (XML, JSON)
Comparisons • Build – as extensive as you’d like
• Buy – most difficult but depends on system
• Borrow – good to great (beware the hacker)
CUSTOMIZATION
Essentials
• APIs, hooks, plug-ins, modules, data access (XML, JSON)
Comparisons • Build – as extensive as you’d like
• Buy – most difficult but depends on system
• Borrow – good to great (beware the hacker)
Takeaways
CUSTOMIZATION
Essentials
• APIs, hooks, plug-ins, modules, data access (XML, JSON)
Comparisons • Build – as extensive as you’d like
• Buy – most difficult but depends on system
• Borrow – good to great (beware the hacker)
Takeaways
• Your way vs. time and money
MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
Essentials
MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
Essentials
• Questions, bugs, periodic tuning
MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
Essentials
• Questions, bugs, periodic tuning
Comparisons
MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
Essentials
• Questions, bugs, periodic tuning
Comparisons • Build – vendor (and library owner) is critical
MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
Essentials
• Questions, bugs, periodic tuning
Comparisons • Build – vendor (and library owner) is critical
• Buy – company is critical, typically tiered
MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
Essentials
• Questions, bugs, periodic tuning
Comparisons • Build – vendor (and library owner) is critical
• Buy – company is critical, typically tiered
• Borrow – vendor (and community) is critical
MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
Essentials
• Questions, bugs, periodic tuning
Comparisons • Build – vendor (and library owner) is critical
• Buy – company is critical, typically tiered
• Borrow – vendor (and community) is critical
MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
Essentials
• Questions, bugs, periodic tuning
Comparisons • Build – vendor (and library owner) is critical
• Buy – company is critical, typically tiered
• Borrow – vendor (and community) is critical
Takeaways
MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
Essentials
• Questions, bugs, periodic tuning
Comparisons • Build – vendor (and library owner) is critical
• Buy – company is critical, typically tiered
• Borrow – vendor (and community) is critical
Takeaways
• Review forums, policies, negotiate to your needs
UPGRADES
UPGRADES
Essentials
UPGRADES
Essentials
• Bug fixes, system (and security) enhancements
UPGRADES
Essentials
• Bug fixes, system (and security) enhancements
Comparisons
UPGRADES
Essentials
• Bug fixes, system (and security) enhancements
Comparisons • Build – specific, tuned, paid for
UPGRADES
Essentials
• Bug fixes, system (and security) enhancements
Comparisons • Build – specific, tuned, paid for
• Buy – automatic (whether you like it or not)
UPGRADES
Essentials
• Bug fixes, system (and security) enhancements
Comparisons • Build – specific, tuned, paid for
• Buy – automatic (whether you like it or not)
• Borrow – community driven, vendor installed
UPGRADES
Essentials
• Bug fixes, system (and security) enhancements
Comparisons • Build – specific, tuned, paid for
• Buy – automatic (whether you like it or not)
• Borrow – community driven, vendor installed
UPGRADES
Essentials
• Bug fixes, system (and security) enhancements
Comparisons • Build – specific, tuned, paid for
• Buy – automatic (whether you like it or not)
• Borrow – community driven, vendor installed
Takeaways
UPGRADES
Essentials
• Bug fixes, system (and security) enhancements
Comparisons • Build – specific, tuned, paid for
• Buy – automatic (whether you like it or not)
• Borrow – community driven, vendor installed
Takeaways
• Review track record of SaaS and OSS
HOSTING AND BACKUPS
HOSTING AND BACKUPS
Essentials
HOSTING AND BACKUPS
Essentials
• Uptime, system performance, redundancy, costs
HOSTING AND BACKUPS
Essentials
• Uptime, system performance, redundancy, costs
Comparisons
HOSTING AND BACKUPS
Essentials
• Uptime, system performance, redundancy, costs
Comparisons • Build – incumbent on your vendor and hosting provider
HOSTING AND BACKUPS
Essentials
• Uptime, system performance, redundancy, costs
Comparisons • Build – incumbent on your vendor and hosting provider
• Buy – critical potential risk
HOSTING AND BACKUPS
Essentials
• Uptime, system performance, redundancy, costs
Comparisons • Build – incumbent on your vendor and hosting provider
• Buy – critical potential risk
• Borrow – incumbent on your vendor and hosting provider
HOSTING AND BACKUPS
Essentials
• Uptime, system performance, redundancy, costs
Comparisons • Build – incumbent on your vendor and hosting provider
• Buy – critical potential risk
• Borrow – incumbent on your vendor and hosting provider
Takeaways
HOSTING AND BACKUPS
Essentials
• Uptime, system performance, redundancy, costs
Comparisons • Build – incumbent on your vendor and hosting provider
• Buy – critical potential risk
• Borrow – incumbent on your vendor and hosting provider
Takeaways
• Review SLAs, policies, forums, references
SECURITY
SECURITY
Essentials
SECURITY
Essentials
• How safe is your data and your system
SECURITY
Essentials
• How safe is your data and your system
Comparisons
SECURITY
Essentials
• How safe is your data and your system
Comparisons • Build – incumbent on your vendor
SECURITY
Essentials
• How safe is your data and your system
Comparisons • Build – incumbent on your vendor
• Buy – critical potential risk
SECURITY
Essentials
• How safe is your data and your system
Comparisons • Build – incumbent on your vendor
• Buy – critical potential risk
• Borrow – based on activity in the community
SECURITY
Essentials
• How safe is your data and your system
Comparisons • Build – incumbent on your vendor
• Buy – critical potential risk
• Borrow – based on activity in the community
Takeaways
SECURITY
Essentials
• How safe is your data and your system
Comparisons • Build – incumbent on your vendor
• Buy – critical potential risk
• Borrow – based on activity in the community
Takeaways
• Review SLAs, policies, forums, references
GETTING WHAT YOU WANT
GETTING WHAT YOU WANT
Essentials
GETTING WHAT YOU WANT
Essentials
• Building to spec or taking what you get (not so black & white)
GETTING WHAT YOU WANT
Essentials
• Building to spec or taking what you get (not so black & white)
Comparisons
GETTING WHAT YOU WANT
Essentials
• Building to spec or taking what you get (not so black & white)
Comparisons • Build – as you wish
GETTING WHAT YOU WANT
Essentials
• Building to spec or taking what you get (not so black & white)
Comparisons • Build – as you wish
• Buy – my way or the highway
GETTING WHAT YOU WANT
Essentials
• Building to spec or taking what you get (not so black & white)
Comparisons • Build – as you wish
• Buy – my way or the highway
• Borrow – let’s meet in the middle
GETTING WHAT YOU WANT
Essentials
• Building to spec or taking what you get (not so black & white)
Comparisons • Build – as you wish
• Buy – my way or the highway
• Borrow – let’s meet in the middle
Takeaways
GETTING WHAT YOU WANT
Essentials
• Building to spec or taking what you get (not so black & white)
Comparisons • Build – as you wish
• Buy – my way or the highway
• Borrow – let’s meet in the middle
Takeaways
• How flexible are you, how critical is your current workflow
COST
COST
Essentials
COST
Essentials
• Complexity of the system, competition, quality, etc.
COST
Essentials
• Complexity of the system, competition, quality, etc.
Comparisons
COST
Essentials
• Complexity of the system, competition, quality, etc.
Comparisons • Build – high up-front cost, lower cost of ownership
COST
Essentials
• Complexity of the system, competition, quality, etc.
Comparisons • Build – high up-front cost, lower cost of ownership
• Buy – monthly (yearly) cost, typically fixed maintenance cost
COST
Essentials
• Complexity of the system, competition, quality, etc.
Comparisons • Build – high up-front cost, lower cost of ownership
• Buy – monthly (yearly) cost, typically fixed maintenance cost
• Borrow – lowest up-front cost, lower maintenance cost
COST
Essentials
• Complexity of the system, competition, quality, etc.
Comparisons • Build – high up-front cost, lower cost of ownership
• Buy – monthly (yearly) cost, typically fixed maintenance cost
• Borrow – lowest up-front cost, lower maintenance cost
Takeaways
COST
Essentials
• Complexity of the system, competition, quality, etc.
Comparisons • Build – high up-front cost, lower cost of ownership
• Buy – monthly (yearly) cost, typically fixed maintenance cost
• Borrow – lowest up-front cost, lower maintenance cost
Takeaways
• vs. features, timing and support
QUESTIONS?
QUESTIONS?
Configuration and Customization
Maintenance and Support
Upgrades
Hosting, Backups and Security
Getting What You Want
Cost
Etc.
SOLUTION COMPARISON
SOLUTION COMPARISON
Process
SOLUTION COMPARISON
Process
• Requirements Gathering
SOLUTION COMPARISON
Process
• Requirements Gathering
• Interviews and Demos
SOLUTION COMPARISON
Process
• Requirements Gathering
• Interviews and Demos
• Comparisons
SOLUTION COMPARISON
Process
• Requirements Gathering
• Interviews and Demos
• Comparisons
• Prioritization
SOLUTION COMPARISON
Process
• Requirements Gathering
• Interviews and Demos
• Comparisons
• Prioritization
• Decision Making
SOLUTION COMPARISON
Process
• Requirements Gathering
• Interviews and Demos
• Comparisons
• Prioritization
• Decision Making
• Final Steps
REQUIREMENTS GATHERING
REQUIREMENTS GATHERING
Inside Out
REQUIREMENTS GATHERING
Inside Out • Interview internal stakeholders
REQUIREMENTS GATHERING
Inside Out • Interview internal stakeholders
• Review existing systems and workflows
REQUIREMENTS GATHERING
Inside Out • Interview internal stakeholders
• Review existing systems and workflows
• Document needed requirements
REQUIREMENTS GATHERING
Inside Out • Interview internal stakeholders
• Review existing systems and workflows
• Document needed requirements
• Find potential SaaS or OSS solutions
REQUIREMENTS GATHERING
Inside Out • Interview internal stakeholders
• Review existing systems and workflows
• Document needed requirements
• Find potential SaaS or OSS solutions
Outside In
REQUIREMENTS GATHERING
Inside Out • Interview internal stakeholders
• Review existing systems and workflows
• Document needed requirements
• Find potential SaaS or OSS solutions
Outside In • Identify potential SaaS or OSS solutions
REQUIREMENTS GATHERING
Inside Out • Interview internal stakeholders
• Review existing systems and workflows
• Document needed requirements
• Find potential SaaS or OSS solutions
Outside In • Identify potential SaaS or OSS solutions
• Review marketing material for features lists
REQUIREMENTS GATHERING
Inside Out • Interview internal stakeholders
• Review existing systems and workflows
• Document needed requirements
• Find potential SaaS or OSS solutions
Outside In • Identify potential SaaS or OSS solutions
• Review marketing material for features lists
• Document available requirements
REQUIREMENTS GATHERING
Inside Out • Interview internal stakeholders
• Review existing systems and workflows
• Document needed requirements
• Find potential SaaS or OSS solutions
Outside In • Identify potential SaaS or OSS solutions
• Review marketing material for features lists
• Document available requirements
• Create requirements document
INTERVIEWS AND DEMOS
INTERVIEWS AND DEMOS
First Pass
INTERVIEWS AND DEMOS
First Pass • Have them market to you
INTERVIEWS AND DEMOS
First Pass • Have them market to you
• Focus on configuration and customization
INTERVIEWS AND DEMOS
First Pass • Have them market to you
• Focus on configuration and customization
• Review forums, call references
INTERVIEWS AND DEMOS
First Pass • Have them market to you
• Focus on configuration and customization
• Review forums, call references
Second Pass
INTERVIEWS AND DEMOS
First Pass • Have them market to you
• Focus on configuration and customization
• Review forums, call references
Second Pass • Bring questions to the table
INTERVIEWS AND DEMOS
First Pass • Have them market to you
• Focus on configuration and customization
• Review forums, call references
Second Pass • Bring questions to the table
• Dig deeper into configuration
INTERVIEWS AND DEMOS
First Pass • Have them market to you
• Focus on configuration and customization
• Review forums, call references
Second Pass • Bring questions to the table
• Dig deeper into configuration
• Clarify financial details
COMPARISON
COMPARISON
Feature to Feature
COMPARISON
Feature to Feature • Identify solutions that meet x% of needs
COMPARISON
Feature to Feature • Identify solutions that meet x% of needs
Solution Type
COMPARISON
Feature to Feature • Identify solutions that meet x% of needs
Solution Type • Build, Buy, or Borrow?
COMPARISON
Feature to Feature • Identify solutions that meet x% of needs
Solution Type • Build, Buy, or Borrow?
• How close are the potential solutions to your needs?
COMPARISON
Feature to Feature • Identify solutions that meet x% of needs
Solution Type • Build, Buy, or Borrow?
• How close are the potential solutions to your needs?
First Cut Selections
COMPARISON
Feature to Feature • Identify solutions that meet x% of needs
Solution Type • Build, Buy, or Borrow?
• How close are the potential solutions to your needs?
First Cut Selections • Vendor List
PRIORITIZATION
PRIORITIZATION
Tangibles
PRIORITIZATION
Tangibles • Spreadsheet: feature | priority (1-10) | notes
PRIORITIZATION
Tangibles • Spreadsheet: feature | priority (1-10) | notes
• Time to market
PRIORITIZATION
Tangibles • Spreadsheet: feature | priority (1-10) | notes
• Time to market
• Costs
PRIORITIZATION
Tangibles • Spreadsheet: feature | priority (1-10) | notes
• Time to market
• Costs
Intangibles
PRIORITIZATION
Tangibles • Spreadsheet: feature | priority (1-10) | notes
• Time to market
• Costs
Intangibles • Gut feeling (integrity, honesty)
PRIORITIZATION
Tangibles • Spreadsheet: feature | priority (1-10) | notes
• Time to market
• Costs
Intangibles • Gut feeling (integrity, honesty)
• Easy to work with
PRIORITIZATION
Tangibles • Spreadsheet: feature | priority (1-10) | notes
• Time to market
• Costs
Intangibles • Gut feeling (integrity, honesty)
• Easy to work with
• Add to spreadsheet
DECISION MAKING
DECISION MAKING
Second Cut
DECISION MAKING
Second Cut • Establish top 2 or 3
DECISION MAKING
Second Cut • Establish top 2 or 3
• Identify key pros and cons
DECISION MAKING
Second Cut • Establish top 2 or 3
• Identify key pros and cons
• Discuss with each vendor
DECISION MAKING
Second Cut • Establish top 2 or 3
• Identify key pros and cons
• Discuss with each vendor
• Review final proposals
DECISION MAKING
Second Cut • Establish top 2 or 3
• Identify key pros and cons
• Discuss with each vendor
• Review final proposals
Final Decision
DECISION MAKING
Second Cut • Establish top 2 or 3
• Identify key pros and cons
• Discuss with each vendor
• Review final proposals
Final Decision • Get buy-in from stakeholders on pros and cons
DECISION MAKING
Second Cut • Establish top 2 or 3
• Identify key pros and cons
• Discuss with each vendor
• Review final proposals
Final Decision • Get buy-in from stakeholders on pros and cons
• Shake hands
FINAL STEPS
FINAL STEPS
Contracts
FINAL STEPS
Contracts • Do it when you’re in love
FINAL STEPS
Contracts • Do it when you’re in love
• Be detailed – annoyingly so
FINAL STEPS
Contracts • Do it when you’re in love
• Be detailed – annoyingly so
• Discuss and document what-ifs
FINAL STEPS
Contracts • Do it when you’re in love
• Be detailed – annoyingly so
• Discuss and document what-ifs
Communication
FINAL STEPS
Contracts • Do it when you’re in love
• Be detailed – annoyingly so
• Discuss and document what-ifs
Communication • Expect regular (weekly / daily) updates
FINAL STEPS
Contracts • Do it when you’re in love
• Be detailed – annoyingly so
• Discuss and document what-ifs
Communication • Expect regular (weekly / daily) updates
• Ask questions – lots of them
QUESTIONS?
QUESTIONS?
Requirements Gathering
Interviews and Demos
Comparisons
Prioritization
Decision Making
Final Steps
Etc.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Build, Buy, or Borrow ...
CONCLUSION
Build, Buy, or Borrow ...
• Familiarity with technologies / terminologies
CONCLUSION
Build, Buy, or Borrow ...
• Familiarity with technologies / terminologies
• Understand critical factors in making decisions
CONCLUSION
Build, Buy, or Borrow ...
• Familiarity with technologies / terminologies
• Understand critical factors in making decisions
• Steps of a process for software solution comparison
THANK YOU
Build, Buy, or Borrow:
Choosing the Best Software Development Path
Kevin Howard Goldberg
President, imagistic
kgoldberg@imagistic.com
818-706-9100